Working Toward Peace.
What is it about peace theorists and the number three? We have three levels to violence and three levels to society. And today, I bring you the three levels of peacework.
Yes folks, peace and conflict theorists have created a working model for peacework that has gained such recognition, it has been adopted by the United Nations for its own efforts toward peace. This three step approach recognizes the immediate need for conflict de-escalation followed by long term conflict transformation and resolution. This system goes by many names but the way I like to define it is as follows: Peacekeeping, Peacemaking, Peacebuilding. In other ideological circles it is called: Disarmament, Peace, Security.
Peacekeeping/Disarmament: In this action, we see the physical intervention to a violent conflict. Images of UN Peacekeepers, with their shiny powder blue helmets and guns, are a familiar sight from such conflicts as Rwanda, Kosovo and Cyprus. Peacekeepers are in no means pacifists. They are there to enforce the peace. They participate in negative peace. The conflict is not resolved by their presence, it is merely transformed by their presence. Peacekeepers are given a mandate to participate in their actions. They operate in a power-over relationship with those in conflict.
Peacemaking/Peace: In this action, we see the attempt to change the conflict that is erupting into violence. This is usually through outside forces. Organizations such as Oxfam International, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) all intervene on conflicts with a non-violent approach. Through their sharing of resources—monetary, physical, or spiritual—they try to alter the situations that are leading to the violence.
Peacebuilding/Security: In this action, we see efforts to change the institutions that encourage the conflicts to arise so that future conflicts will be healthy and open. These efforts are often from within the communities themselves utilizing the resources of the peacemaking organizations. These efforts from the Peacebuilders are what we classify as positive peace. They work in a power-under relationship. Those who are most affected by conflict work to transform it. Here we see women’s cooperatives that teach about domestic violence. We see community gardens that keep kids off the streets and teach them business skills. We see churches give sanctuary to the victims of war and conflict.
As we look at each step individually, we see that this is not a formula. It is not necessary for each step to be taken in order. Indeed, one may find it all but impossible to participate in Peacekeeping without Peacebuilding. However, in our own worldview, we find it appropriate to intervene physically before spiritually.
In our traditional Power-Over, Top/Down approach to conflict resolution, we see it necessary to send the military to intervene before we send humanitarian aid. And, sometimes, this is true. However, not all conflicts can be solved with a strong arm and a firm resolve. We must also acknowledge the needs of those who are most affected by the conflict and allow them to form the peace they desire. To quote the educator, Maria Montesorri, “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.”
